What are the differences between Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese?

With 258 million native speakers, Portuguese is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. However, the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and the Portuguese spoken in Portugal significantly differ from each other in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. 

And these differences aren’t without their controversies! Brazilians often claim that the Portuguese spoken in Portugal is difficult to understand, while the Portuguese argue that Brazilians speak their language incorrectly. 

Let’s find out what the key differences are and what each language is all about.

A Brief History of the Portuguese language

The Portuguese language originated from Latin in the Western Iberian Peninsula. Roman soldiers and colonists introduced Latin in 216 BCE, and when the Germanic people took over the Iberian Peninsula after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Vulgar Latin replaced almost every language. This formed the foundations of all of the Romance languages. 

During the 12th and 14th centuries, known as the Galician-Portuguese Period, Portuguese was used for writing lyrical poetry in Christian Hispania. This period marked a significant event in the recognition of the language when King Denis of Portugal founded the first Portuguese university in Lisbon in 1290. It was then that he officially named the language Portuguese and stated that it must be used by everyone from then on.

Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Portuguese language reached Asia, Africa, and the Americas due to the Portuguese colonizing Brazil. 

Differences in pronunciation between European and Brazilian Portuguese

Most of the time, the differences between both the languages are found when speaking, not in writing since the written form is usually the same.

The letter ‘d’ and ’t’ sounds in European Portuguese are pronounced as they are written, with a rough and subtle sound. However, in Brazilian Portuguese, the letter ‘d’ is pronounced as ‘djee’, and the letter ’t’ is pronounced as ‘tchee’ before the end of words. To make this even easier to understand the difference, in Brazil, they sound like ‘chi’ as in ‘cheese’, and ‘ji’ as in ‘genius’. While in Portugal, these sounds are ‘t’ as in ‘tea’, and ‘d’ as in ‘dim’.

Examples: The word ‘cidade’ or ‘city’ in Brazilian Portuguese, you would say ‘ci-da-djee’ or the word 'diferente’ or ‘different’, you would say ‘di-fe’ren-tchee’.

The ’s’ sound in European Portuguese is pronounced as ‘sh’ at the end of syllables. In Brazilian Portuguese, it is pronounced as ’s’. Only in Rio de Janeiro where they have a different accent, they also pronounce the letter ’s’ just as it is in Portugal.

Example: ‘Português’ or ‘Portuguese’ in European Portuguese, you would say ‘por-tu-gueish’ and in Brazilian Portuguese you would say ‘por-tu-gues’.

The letter ‘o’ at the end of words, in Brazilian Portuguese it sounds at times like ‘u’, while in European Portuguese it sounds like ‘o’.

Example: ‘Tabuleiro’ or ‘Board’ in Brazilian Portuguese, you would say ‘Ta-bu-lei-ru”.

In Brazilian Portuguese, we can hear the sound of vowels much easier than in European Portuguese, since in their case they only say the consonants. 

Example: “Colesterol” or “Cholesterol” in Brazilian Portuguese, you would say “Co-les-te-rol”, and, in European Portuguese you would say “Cols-trol”. 

Also, in European Portuguese, all the vowels have a closed sound, while in Brazilian Portuguese it’s sound is very open and clear. 

Vocabulary differences

There are words that exist in both languages and are written the same way, but they have different meanings. Also, both languages absorbed a lot from European languages such as French and Italian.

Brazilians use diminutives a lot more than in people in Portugal. These are generally used to refer to something of a smaller size or to express either affection or depreciation. 

Examples: ‘Aninha’ (little Ana), ‘Bonequinha’ (little doll)’, Amorzinho’ (my little love) or ‘Beijinho’ (little kiss).

Spelling and Grammar in European and Brazilian Portuguese: differences

Subject Pronouns

One of the most important things to know when speaking both languages is the way people address one another.

In Brazilian Portuguese, to say the word ‘you’, you should use the word ‘você’ (third person). However, if you say that same word in Portugal, you will be addressing someone too informally and it comes off as impolite. In European Portuguese you should use the word ‘tu’ instead (second person). 

Example:

(BP) Oi mãe, como foi seu dia? 

(EP) Olá mãe, como foi o teu dia? 

(EN) Hi, Mum, how’s your day? 

Object Pronouns

The few differences seen in the order in which the word appears in phrases, but they both mean the same.

Here are examples to illustrate the differences:

(BP) Oi, me chamo Miguel. 

(EP) Olá, Chamo-me Miguel. 

(EN) I call myself Miguel or My name is Miguel 

(BP) Te conto essa história depois. 

(EP) Conto-te essa história mais logo. 

(EN) I will tell you that story later.

Prepositions

In European Portuguese, it is said ‘à’ or ‘ao’, which are contractions of the preposition ‘a’), whereas in Brazilian Portuguese they use the ‘no’ or ‘na’, which are contractions of the preposition ‘em’).

(BP) Vou no banheiro. 

(EP) Vou ao quarto de banho. 

(EN) I am going to the restroom.

Gerunds

The use of gerunds is another key difference between both languages. While in Brazilian Portuguese it is typically the same as in English, European Portuguese avoid making use of it. Instead, they use ‘a’ followed by a verb in the infinitive.

Example: 

(BP) Estou comendo “I’m eating” 

(EP) Estou a comer “I’m eating” 

Spelling

There are minor differences and small variations when it comes to spelling in European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese.

Thanks to the orthographic agreement signed in 2010, the spelling across both Portuguese languages became more standardized. Changes like for instance of removing the additional consonants which are mute in European languages, which are words like ‘acção’ (action), ‘correcto’ (correct), ‘baptismo’ (baptismo), ‘excepto’ (except), and Egipto (Egypt) are now written like it is in Brazilian Portuguese (without the extra ‘c’).

Você aprendeu algo novo?

At the end of the day, while both iterations of Portuguese have their own unique words and differing vocabulary, these are minor differences that won’t get in the way of Portuguese and Brazilians from understanding one another. 

So, whichever form of Portuguese you choose to learn, once you’ve mastered the language you shouldn’t have any trouble making yourself understood - whichever side of the Atlantic you’re on!

Begin learning Portuguese with an app that offers both reading and listening (like Beelinguapp), so that way you can learn exactly how to make use of correct pronunciation, spelling and grasp a series of vocabulary terms which will both improve and recognize which Portuguese you’re striving towards, from Europe or Brazil!